Craig Tracey MP, Chair of the Parliamentary group for Women and Enterprise, organised a visit designed to give an insight into apprentice and career opportunities for women at the BBC Academy in Birmingham.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Women and Enterprise’s aims include encourage more women into entrepreneurialism, senior management and enterprising careers and promoting the use of different routes such as apprenticeships in fields usually associated with men.
Birmingham Mailbox has been made home to the BBC Academy along with BBC Workplace, BBC Outreach and BBC Corporate Responsibility teams, as well as the BBC Diversity Unit and Internal Communications.
North Warwickshire and Bedworth’s voice in Parliament Craig Tracey commented:
“This was an important visit for our group, the BBC Academy in Birmingham is a really interesting example of a large organisation encouraging young women in enterprise and championing equal pay and diversity. The Academy has set up a partnership with Sound Women to launch its mentoring scheme which will be hugely influential.”
The BBC Academy partner with the Sound Women network for a mentoring scheme. Sound Women aims to raise the profile of women in the radio industry so that they receive equal pay and opportunities both on air and in senior management.
The Parliamentary group were given a tour of the Academy and held a roundtable discussion with Director of BBC Birmingham Joe Godwin on BBC initiative around apprentices and diversity. The group were also given a short presentation from apprentices at the Academy.
By the end of 15/16 the BBC Midlands spend will be in excess of £125m in our region.
Local MP Craig concluded:
“The BBC Academy is an excellent facility and the BBC in Birmingham is significant for our regional economy with over 700 employees. There are wider implications of the work they are doing in the Midlands, they have a first class training programme offering fantastic opportunities for local young people. Our Parliamentary Group will continue to raise the profile of women in enterprise.”
Speaking about the greater opportunities open to women in fields that were traditionally male, Joe Godwin, Director BBC Academy, said:
"Since the launch of the ground-breaking BBC Engineering Apprenticeship in 2013 we have worked hard to increase the number of young women who apply - with some success - this year 25 per cent of our intake is female. This has been achieved through a variety of interventions including working with partners (like Women in Science & Engineering), adjusting the language of our promotional materials and ensuring that there are female role models at our Open Days.”